Masterclasses for young storytellers are to be held

This autumn, masterclasses for young storytellers and their teachers will take place in various locations across Latvia. The aim of the masterclasses is to develop and refine the storytelling skills of young storytellers and their teachers, making spontaneous storytelling an integral part of everyday communication, as well as to highlight the role of stories within a particular community, environment and dialect.

The course will involve an introduction to different types of stories and storytelling strategies, practical exercises, work in small groups and one-to-one collaboration with the masterclass leaders, as well as telling stories and listening to others’ stories, whilst jointly creating a storytelling evening. The masterclasses will take place in Riga (22 October and 5 November 2026), Liepāja (23 October and 24 October 2026), Viļāni (30 October and 31 October 2026), Vilce (20 November and 21 November 2026) and Koknese (27 November and 28 November 2026). They will be led by experienced Latvian storytellers: Māra Mellēna, Guntis Pakalns, Dāvis Suharevskis, Aija Vitmane.

The training cycle is organised by the implementers of the ANCESTOR project in Latvia – the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art at the University of Latvia – in collaboration with the Latvian Storytellers’ Association and the coordinators and teachers of the programme for the acquisition and transmission of intangible cultural heritage, "Pulkā eimu, pulkā teku", in Riga, Vidzeme, Zemgale, Kurzeme and Latgale. The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.

The masterclasses are organised as part of the international European Union "Creative Europe" programme project ANCESTOR ("A Net to Catch European Stories and Tales from the Oral Tradition", No. 101255605). With the involvement of local participants, similar workshops are also taking place in other countries – Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and Slovakia.